Economic Geology Models 5. Specialty, Critical, Battery, Magnet and Photovoltaic Materials: Market Facts, Projections and Implications for Exploration and Development

Many exploration companies are now focusing on specialty materials that are associated with so-called ‘green technology’. These include ‘battery materials’, ‘magnet materials’ and ‘photovoltaic materials’, and many such commodities are also broadly labelled as ‘critical materials’ because they are seen as vital for industrial development, societal needs or national security. The definitions used for such materials are not always consistent among jurisdictions or across industry, and this paper attempts to clarify the criteria and address some common misconceptions. The distinction between major minerals (e.g. base metals) and ‘specialty materials’ (i.e. those mined or produced in much smaller amounts) is particularly important. The markets for many specialty materials are growing faster than those for traditional ferrous, precious and base metals and they are often portrayed as excellent long-term investment opportunities. However, the small market bases for specialty materials and considerable uncertainty around growth projections (especially related to material substitutions and rapid technological change) need to be taken into consideration for objective assessment of the development potential of any proposed project, establishment of new supply chains by major corporations, and responsible decision-making (mineral policy) by government. In the short-term, projects aimed at specialty materials (materials with a small market base) cannot benefit from economy of scale, and their development hinges on commercially proven metallurgical processes, unless they are supported by governments or end-users. Several specialty metals (e.g. germanium, indium, cadmium, and cobalt) are commonly obtained as by-product of base metal extraction. In such cases, systematic testing of base metal ores for their specialty metal content may justify the addition of relevant recovery circuits to existing smelters. If positive results are obtained, the need for targeting new sources of such specialty metals as primary exploration targets may be reduced or eliminated. Where market conditions permit and concerns about the future availability of materials seem reliable, grass-roots exploration for specialty materials is warranted, and pre-competitive government involvement may be justified to promote such development efforts.

BÖHLER T200

Böhler (or Boehler) T200 is an age-hardenable austenitic Fe-Ni-Cr alloy designed for service up to 704 deg C (1300 deg F) on jobs requiring high strength and good corrosion resistance at the operating temperature. The alloy offers high ductility in notched sections. The alloy is used in jet engines and superchargers for various high-temperature components and is one of the few age-hardenable alloys used for bolting in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, elasticity, and tensile properties as well as fracture toughness and creep. It also includes information on forming, heat treating, and machining. Filing Code: SS-1205. Producer or source: Böhler-Uddeholm Specialty Metals Inc..

BÖHLER A911SA EXTRA

Böhler (or Boehler) A911 is a super duplex ferritic-austenitic chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel with excellent resistance to stress-corrosion cracking, pitting, and crevice corrosion. This datasheet provides information on composition, physical properties, elasticity, and tensile properties as well as fracture toughness. It also includes information on high temperature performance as well as forming, heat treating, machining, and joining. Filing Code: SS-1119. Producer or source: Böhler-Uddeholm Specialty Metals Inc..